with Katie Jacobs & The Cheese Gal
Photography by Katelyn Brown Photography
When my vegetable garden is at its peak and brimming with vegetables, I invite my friends over to help with the harvest and take home baskets of goodies. Last summer, when I invited my friend Cortney over – you may know her from Instagram as @cheesegal – we decide to make it a party.
The Veggies
We picked veggies straight from the garden, and Cortney sliced and arranged them into the most beautiful crudités board while I made some dips – Creamy Jalapeño Ranch, Baba Ganoush and Spicy Sweet Potato Hummus were all made with ingredients from the garden and displayed in the center of Cortney’s board.
Sweets & Bubbly
For dessert, Lemon Whoopee Pies with Lavender Frosting felt light and fresh — perfectly suited for the garden. I made tiny bouquets of edible flowers for Blackberry Lavender Champagne Cocktails served in vintage coupe glasses.
The Aesthetic
For the design of this party, I wanted to create the feel of a dreamy secret garden, but still keep things comfortable and inviting. I was recently introduced to Heirloomed Collective and fell in love with their modern classic pieces that can easily ground any tablescape. So, I tied an Heirloomed floral linen table runner (available at Hot Pink in Brentwood) off at the ends with herb and flower bundles for an easy but unexpected touch.
To keep things relaxed, I brought in some of my favorite vintage pieces – a wicker standing tray used as a bar, tin picnic basket to ice champagne and a huge rattan serving board that brought the perfect amount of texture.
I kept the florals loose and wild, highlighting blooms from my garden. Wicker baskets were at the ready for guests to pick veggies as a takeaway!
As the sun began to set and our guests were full of fresh-from-the-garden goodness, our pet bunny, Dolly, came for a visit, and the happiness was palpable!
For more entertaining tips, recipes and design inspiration, follow Katie’s blog at stylingmyeverday.com. Follow Cortney LaCorte, @cheesegal, and Katelyn Brown, @katelynbrownphoto, on social media.
